Bess Name: Complete Etymology, Meaning & Popularity Analysis
Summary
Bess is a diminutive form of Elizabeth, originating from the Hebrew name Elisheba, which means 'God is my oath.' It evolved through various forms, including Elizabeth in Old English, and has been used since the Middle Ages. The name is biblically relevant due to its association with Elizabeth, the mother of John the Baptist. Bess is considered a charming and vintage name with a quaint image in modern times, and it has notable variants such as Bessie and Liz. Notable individuals with this name include Bess Truman and Bess of Hardwick.
The name Bess is most popular in New York, USA across all generations. It ranks highest as a Girl name among the G.I. Generation generation in the South region. Recent 3-year trends show this Boy name is maintaining steady popularity, while the 25-year trend indicates it has been relatively stable. Recent 3-year trends show this Girl name is maintaining steady popularity, while the 25-year trend indicates it has been relatively stable. From 2020-2022, Bess has been stalled for female in MidWest, stalled for female in Northeast, stalled for female in South, stalled for female in West. The long-term 25-year analysis reveals it has been stalled for female in MidWest, stalled for female in Northeast, stalled for female in South, stalled for female in West. Across generations, 'Bess' has shown interesting popularity patterns: Among the G.I. Generation (1901-1927), it ranked 598th out of 9107 names. Among the Silent Generation (1928-1945), it ranked 1518th out of 9204 names. Among the Baby Boomers (1946-1964), it ranked 2170th out of 12526 names. Among the Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980), it ranked 3384th out of 19264 names. Among the Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996), it ranked 4167th out of 27321 names. Among the Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012), it ranked 10330th out of 35406 names. Among the Generation Alpha (2013-2024), it ranked 15202nd out of 30306 names. Discover how the name 'Bess' has evolved through American history with our comprehensive regional and generational analysis.
Etymology & Cultural Background of "Bess"
Pronunciation
/bɛs/
Origin
Hebrew
Etymology
Bess is a diminutive form of the name Elizabeth, which is derived from the Hebrew name Elisheba, meaning 'God is my oath.'
Meaning
God is my oath
Language Evolution
Elisheba (Hebrew), Elizabeth (Old English), Bess (Middle English)
Biblical Background
The name Elizabeth appears in the Bible, as the mother of John the Baptist.
Historical Usage
Bess gained popularity as a diminutive of Elizabeth during the Middle Ages and was commonly used in England.
Variants & Derivatives
Bessie, Beth, Liz, Lizzie
Modern Popularity & Image
Today, Bess is seen as a quaint and vintage name, often associated with charm and femininity.
Famous People
Bess Truman, former First Lady of the United States, Bess Hawes, American artist, Bess of Hardwick, English noblewoman
Explore More Bess Name Visualizations
Historical Birth Statistics for the Name "Bess"
Note: Years with identical rankings may represent different numbers of births. Data is sourced from Social Security card applications for births in the United States.
Yearly Ranking History of "Bess"
"Bess" Popularity Across American Generations
| Generation | Gender | Rank | Total Names |
|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) | Girl | 598th of 9107 | 2,551 |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) | Girl | 1518th of 9204 | 487 |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) | Girl | 2170th of 12526 | 495 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) | Girl | 3384th of 19264 | 312 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) | Girl | 4167th of 27321 | 359 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) | Girl | 10330th of 35406 | 150 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) | Girl | 15202nd of 30306 | 53 |
Regional Popularity of "Bess" by Generation for Male Names
| TOP(%) | MidWest | Northeast | South | West |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) |
- | - | - | - |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) |
- | - | - | - |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) |
- | - | - | - |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) |
- | - | - | - |
Regional Popularity of "Bess" by Generation for Female Names
| TOP(%) | MidWest | Northeast | South | West |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) |
46.75% 662nd/1416 |
42.57% 587th/1379 |
30.64% 725th/2366 |
- |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) |
89.07% 1377th/1546 |
100.00% 1556th/1556 |
100.00% 2353rd/2353 |
- |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) |
- |
72.02% 1750th/2430 |
- | - |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) |
- |
73.41% 2557th/3483 |
- |
100.00% 4044th/4044 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) |
100.00% 3685th/3685 |
75.62% 3384th/4475 |
100.00% 5194th/5194 |
- |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) |
- | - | - | - |
State-by-State Popularity of "Bess"
This map shows the relative popularity of "Bess" across states, calculated by dividing the number of births with this name in each state by the total births in that state. This methodology provides a standardized measure of popularity regardless of state population size.